Find an instrument’s full contract details in TWS

Quick answer

Use Financial Instrument Info → Description on the product in TWS. Compare the complete contract, not just the ticker. This is the starting point when an alert selects the wrong product or returns an ambiguous-contract error.

Educational software guidance. Trading involves risk. Read the financial and information disclaimers.

Step by step

1 Locate the product in a watchlist or Portfolio.
2 Right-click it and open Financial Instrument Info → Description.
3 Record the security type, currency, exchange, and contract identifier shown.
4 For derivatives, also record expiry, multiplier, strike, and call or put where applicable.
5 Compare those values with the app’s symbol mapping before creating another request.

A practical example

A watchlist shows a short futures name with the rest cut off. Before you map an alert, open Description and read the full month and product. Save those details in your test notes. A screenshot of the short row may be too vague for support to know which contract you meant. The full description helps two people compare the same thing without guessing from a ticker.

Illustrative scenario, not a record of a trade placed during this review.

Screen reference

TWS stock Description showing SMART route, NASDAQ primary exchange, currency, contract ID, minimum tick and frozen data status — This stock is an example of the fields to compare. SMART routing and Primary Exchange are separate fields. The observed feed is Frozen and the market is closed; this is not a live-price or trading recommendation. Captured in TWS paper mode on 3 October 2026. Open the image for full size.

TWS futures Description showing contract month, expiry, multiplier, exchange, tick size and trading schedule — This example future shows where to read the month, multiplier and tick size. Use your own intended contract; the pictured contract is not a recommendation. The captured market is closed and data is Frozen. Captured in TWS paper mode on 3 October 2026. Open the image for full size.

How to confirm the result The chart, app mapping, and TWS description should identify the same intended product.

Mistake to avoid

A familiar display name can hide a different expiry or listing. Keep the full description with support cases.

Common questions

Can I use Description without placing an order?

Yes. It is an check step.

Why does the app need more than a symbol?

Some symbols identify multiple products or listings.

Wrong stock listing in TWS: check primary exchange TradingView and TWS show different futures expiries Continuous futures symbols and TWS order routing TWS error 200: contract not found or ambiguous

Financial and information disclaimers

Financial disclaimer

These guides explain software. They are for education, not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. No example is a suggestion to buy or sell a product or use a trading strategy. Trading can lose money, including all funds you put at risk. With margin, futures, short sales, or some options, losses can exceed your starting funds. Automation can fail, send duplicate orders, or act late. Stops do not guarantee a fill or a price. Review your orders and positions, and seek advice from a qualified professional for your own needs. Paper trades, examples, and past results do not predict live results or promise a profit.

Information disclaimer

This is general help based on the sources and check date shown on the page. Screens, settings, fees, data access, and product support can change or differ by app version, account, country, and broker. The content may contain errors or become out of date; accuracy, completeness, and continuous service are not guaranteed. Check current broker and app instructions before acting. Screenshots show where controls are; they do not prove that an order test passed. This guide does not replace broker terms or risk notices. References to IBKR and TradingView identify their products and do not imply their endorsement of this guide.